Israeli air strike called off

November 20, 2006|By New York Times News Service

JERUSALEM — Israel called off an air strike against the house of a suspected Palestinian militant in the Gaza Strip late Saturday, after the inhabitants ignored a telephoned warning and neighbors flocked to the house to prevent the bombing, the military said.

On Sunday, hundreds of Palestinians, including Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, stayed in and around the house in Jabaliya throughout the day. They declared a victory for "popular resistance," but Israel, under criticism for killing civilians in such strikes, called it another example of Palestinians using civilians to shield military activity.

"They are using them as human shields," said an Israeli military spokesman.

But Palestinians celebrated it as a possibly potent new defense against air raids that Israel might find difficult to counter.

Israel said the house had been used by leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees, a militant group that was active in firing Qassam rockets into Israel.